Cubs clinch league title, run win streak to nine games

BROOKINGS – The Brookings Cubs swept a doubleheader against the Sioux Falls Flying Squirrels on Sunday night and in the process they clinched the Sioux Empire League title.

The Cubs won game one 13-4 and then beat the Squirrels 6-0 in game two. They’ve now won nine-straight games and have a record of 16-1 on the year. Brookings’ lone loss was a forfeit against Renner on June 13.

Brookings will wrap up the regular season on Thursday as they play at the Tea Steam at 7:30 p.m. The Cubs will then play in the Region Playoffs July 30 and 31 in Brookings.

Game One

Brookings 13, Sioux Falls 4

Both games of the doubleheader were seven innings and the Cubs jumped out to a 10-2 lead through the first three innings of game one.

Sioux Falls scored two runs in the top of the first inning as Connor Hurley launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. However, Brookings responded with five runs of its own in the bottom of the inning.

Carson Jager scored on a fielder’s choice and then Lincoln Vasgaard was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game at 2-2. Ashton Pick then scored on a wild pitch and Justin Cofell hit a two-run single to make it 5-2 going into the second.

Rhett Zelinky hit a solo homer to left in the bottom of the second to make it 6-2. The Cubs then scored four runs in the bottom of the third.

Jager hit an RBI single and then Zelinsky walked with the bases loaded to make it 8-2. Cofell then scored on a double play and Jager scored on an error to push the lead to 10-2.

Sioux Falls scored two runs in the top of the fifth. Trevor Hurley hit an RBI single and then Jack Simonsen hit an RBI double to make it 10-4.

Brookings would score three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Zelinsky scored on a passed ball and then Myles Rees hit an RBI single. Arlen Peters scored on an error on the play to make the final 13-4.

The Cubs had 12 hits as a team. Cofell was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Zelinsky was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Jager and Peters were each 2-for-4 with an RBI. Rees and Parker Winghart were each 1-for-3 with an RBI. 

Peters pitched the first six innings for the Cubs. He gave up four earned runs on five hits and had nine strikeouts and five walks. Jager got the final three outs and did not give up a hit and had one strikeout.

Game Two

Brookings 6, Sioux Falls 0

Neither team scored for the first four innings and the Cubs were then able to score six runs in the final three innings.

Jayden Gibson had a gem on the mound as he gave up just three hits and had six strikeouts and three walks.

Zelinsky came to the plate with two runners on in the fifth and blasted one over the left field fence to make it 3-0. Peters then hit a solo shot to left in the top of the sixth to push the lead to 4-0.

Brookings then scored two runs in the top of the seventh. Zelinsky hit an RBI single and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Peters to make the final 6-0.

The Cubs had nine hits. Zelinsky was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Peters was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Jager was 2-for-4 and Vasgaard and Cofell were each 1-for-3. Michael Zimmerman and Isaac Bonner were each 1-for-4.